Policy Text
MAITLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE
PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE Page 1
TITLE: PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE
NUMBER: 607
EFFECTIVE: FEBRUARY 1, 2001
REFERENCE:
RESCINDS:
AMENDS:
ATTACHMENTS:
DATE FOR REVIEW: PERIODICALLY
REVIEW BY: STAFF/OUTSIDE SOURCE
DATE LAST REVIEW: April 2025
DATE REVISED: April 2025
PURPOSE ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1
POLICY ……………………………………………………………………………………………... 2
DEFINITIONS ………………………………………………………………………………………. 2
PROCEDURE ……………………………………………………………………………………… 3
PROPERTY/EVIDENCE COLLECTION ………………………………………………………… 3
RECOVERED PROPERTY PROCEDURE …………………………………………………….. 5
IDENTIFICATION OF PROPERTY ………………………………………………………………. 6
PROPERTY/EVIDENCE SUBMISSION …………………………………………………………. 7
EVIDENCE PROCESSING ……………………………………………………………………….. 8
IMPROPER SUBMISSIONS ……………………………………………………………………… 9
DISPOSAL OF EVIDENCE/PROPERTY ……………………………………………………….. 9
RELEASE OF PRO PERTY ………………………………………………………………………. 11
PHOTGRAPHING PROPERTY ………………………………………………………………….. 12
PROPERTY STORAGE ROOMS ………………………………………………………………... 12
INVENTORY CONTROL ………………………………………………………………………….. 13
LAB TRANSMITTAL FORM ……………………………………………………………………… 14
COLLECTING /LABELING BLOOD SAMPLES ………………………………………………. 15
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ……………………………………………………………………… 16
PURPOSE
The purpose of t he property and evidence management function is to establish guidelines for identifying,
preserving, obtaining, labeling, recording, storage and disposal of evidence and recovered property.
MAITLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE
PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE Page 2
POLICY
607.1a It shall be the policy of the Maitland Police Department to ensure that all property and evidence
coming within the control of Department members be properly recovered, uniformly submitted, as well
as efficiently and accurately maintained for accountability. Release, purging and disposal shall be in
accordance with statutory requirements and agency policy.
607.1b Evidence shall be collected and submitted in accordance with the Florida Department of Law
Enforcement Submission Manual and this policy.
607.1c All property and evidence shall be placed under the Property and Evidence section function
(submitt ed) before the member goes off duty. All property and evidence shall be logged into agency
records either electronically (via Café Report Management system and Evidence Manager system ) at
the time of submission or it shall be logged into the electronic Evidence Manager system by Property
and Evidence personnel within 24 hours of submission (Monday -Friday) or on the following working day
(for submission s done on weekends and holiday).
607.1d During exceptional situation s (i.e. processing of extensive crime scenes, unusually voluminous
amount of submission due to large case, etc.), the time frame for logging the property or evidence into
agency records may be extended (but shall not include the actual submission of physica l property or
evidence). Submissions to the function shall be without delay.
DEFINITIONS
607.2a Audit: The examination of records and activities to ensure compliance with established control,
policies, and operational procedures.
607.2b Chain of Custody: A Chain of Custody is a record of all persons having charge, control, or
possession of evidence from the time it is received or obtained until it is introduced into court.
607.2c Evidence: Evidence is property which is believed to be related in some way t o a suspected
criminal offense.
607.2d Evidence Manager: The electronic system authored and maintained by Seminole County
Sheriff’s Office that keeps records of property and evidence entered by members into the Café Report
Writing system.
607.2 e Eviden ce Custodian: Person(s) assigned to the Evidence Section having control and custody
of evidence and recovered property.
607.2 f Forfeiture: The seizure and forfeiture of currency, vehicles, vessels, aircraft, real property, and
other property, pursuant to the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act, Sections 932.701 -932.707, Florida
Statutes.
607.2 g Inventory: The act or process of cataloging through a full or partial accounting of the quantity
of goods or materials on hand.
MAITLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE
PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE Page 3
607.2 h Recovered Property: Recovered property is property which has been lost or abandoned and is
neither believed to be connected with nor constitute part of any known or suspected criminal offense.
607.2 i Safekeeping: Property of a person which may need to be secured either because the items may
present a threat to other persons, or the person/owner is unable to take custody and secure the property
due to circumstances beyond his/her control.
PROCEDURES
607.3a Members receiving property or evidence, shall not, under any circumstances, destroy or convert
any such material to his own use.
607.3b The Maitland Police Department will safeguard and properly dispose of all property which
comes into its custody. All property held by the department shall be kept in the designated secured
area.
607.3c It shall be the